Set Your Fall Semester and College Prep Goals

Whether you’re still adjusting to your first year of high school or you’re a college-bound junior ready to hit the ground running, it’s important to set academic and college prep goals for the fall as soon as school starts back up. Goals help keep you on track with your college prep, but they also help you learn more about who you are, what you’re interested in, and how you can better pursue those interests. During a particularly busy or stressful time, goals can help you stay motivated.

When developing academic and college prep goals, it’s important to think about what you want to accomplish both in the short- and long-term. Start with setting goals for fall semester before establishing goals for the academic year and beyond.  

What Is a SMART Goal for a Semester?

A SMART goal is a well-structured, clearly defined objective that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Here’s an example of a SMART goal you might set for a semester:

Goal: Improve my algebra grade from a B to an A by the end of the semester.

• Specific: The goal focuses on improving the grade in a specific subject, algebra.
• Measurable: Progress can be tracked by looking at the grades on assignments, quizzes, and exams.
• Achievable: If the student currently has a B, improving to an A is challenging but possible with extra effort, study, and practice.
• Relevant: Improving math skills is important for overall academic success, helps prepare you for standardized tests, and may be necessary for future high school and college courses.
• Time-bound: The goal has a clear deadline, which is the end of the semester.

This goal could be further broken down into smaller steps, such as setting weekly study targets, seeking help from a tutor, or practicing additional problems each day.

Set Your Top 3 Academic Goals for This Semester

We can’t stress it enough: grades are the most important factor that colleges will consider when evaluating applications. It’s important for students to be on track with their grades and also take the most rigorous courses that are appropriate for them. Set your goals for the semester with this in mind. Don’t hesitate to set smaller goals, too, like getting an A on a special project in your biology class or completing an extra credit assignment.

#1 Be on Track with Your Grades

Setting academic goals this fall can be as simple as maintaining an ‘A’ average, or as ambitious as raising one course mark a whole letter grade from the semester before. Ninth and 10th graders should be working toward an upward grade trend, meaning their grades improve, or stay high, as they take more challenging courses.

Junior year grades are often the last marks that colleges see on students’ applications — especially if you plan to apply early. If you’re struggling in an honors or AP course, for example, you might set a goal to make a ‘B’ on your next exam, and then an ‘A’ on the next.

#2 Take More Challenging Courses

College admissions committees look at course rigor in addition to your grades. It’s important to select high school courses that challenge you but are also appropriate for your abilities and interests — after all, you need to maintain a good academic standing! 

Be intentional about your course selection. If you’re interested in studying STEM, for example, focus on taking more rigorous courses in relevant disciplines to develop your expertise in this subject area. Admissions committees look for students who are specialists and have demonstrated advanced study skills in their areas of interest.

#3 Set Aside One Hour Per Day

Staying on track with your grades often involves extra work. One of our favorite study tips is to set aside one extra hour per day to go over any lessons or concepts covered that day in your classes. This helps you commit the information to memory. Also, if you notice anything confusing or unclear as you review your notes, you can ask your teacher about it right away to make sure you fully understand the material.

Set Test Prep Goals

If you’re in ninth or 10th grade, test prep might be the last thing on your mind as the fall semester kicks off. However, now is a great time to start thinking about simple tasks you can complete to get on the right track with your test prep. For example, younger students can break down their test prep goals into manageable chunks like “take an SAT or ACT diagnostic by December.”

For juniors, setting test prep goals can be a little more pressing, since they should aim to complete their testing by the end of junior year or summer before senior year. This fall, set realistic score goals based on your current test prep and practice test results. For example, if you need to increase your SAT Math score, determine a realistic point increase and work to obtain that during practice tests before sitting for the real test. 

Also set other smaller goals, like completing one practice exam per month or dedicating 2-3 hours per week to your SAT or ACT prep. Then, as spring approaches, aim to increase both your weekly prep time and practice test frequency to be best prepared for your first official sitting. This is also the ideal time to start working with a tutor or test prep expert who can help you achieve your goal scores before senior year.

Think About Your Personal Goals, Too

What is your goal in life as a student? You may think in terms of academics as you ponder this question but don’t overlook personal goals. You can set personal goals that complement and enhance your academic performance, such as improving time management, developing better study habits, participating in extracurricular activities, improving your public speaking skills, and practicing mindfulness or stress management techniques. Setting personal goals along with your academic goals can boost your confidence and mental well-being.  

Set Your College Prep Goals

Maintaining academic and test prep performance is just one part of the college prep puzzle. Students should aim to set other college prep goals this fall that are easy to manage and can help make the process less stressful down the line.

Ninth and 10th graders, for example, can set simple college prep goals, like: 

• Creating and maintaining an activities list throughout the semester.
• Completing outside reading — not just books, but periodicals and other resources related to your interests.
• Visiting a college or two to get a sense of different campus atmospheres and what it’s like to be a college student.
• Exploring activities that match your interests. 
• Planning your class schedule for the following year.

Setting these small, but impactful, goals can help students build a clearer picture of their interests and what they want out of a college experience when it comes time to build a balanced college list junior year.

For juniors, college prep goals can be more tangible, like: 

• Visiting three college campuses during the semester.
• Creating a preliminary college list by November.
• Meeting with your college counselor before your next SAT or ACT test date.
• Visiting two college fairs this semester to meet admissions representatives from your top-choice colleges. 
• Practicing your writing skills.

Evaluate where you are in the college prep process. Have you started researching colleges? Have you registered for information sessions at upcoming college visits? Have you updated your timeline with upcoming test dates? Maybe you need to set a goal to create your college prep timeline by October. Find out where you are and where you need to be at this point in the process and set goals to help you get on track and stay ahead.

Make the Most of Winter Break

Winter break is a great opportunity to relax, recharge, and make progress on personal and academic goals. These tips can help you make the most of your winter break:

• Explore potential schools, majors, and career paths.
• Reflect on the past semester and set academic and personal goals for the upcoming semester.
• Go over challenging subjects or topics that were difficult during the semester.
• Start reviewing or reading ahead for next semester.
• Look for opportunities to make an impact. Volunteering during the break can be rewarding and good for college applications — be mindful that admissions committees look for community service activities that you have a sustained commitment to and that align with your interests.
• Dedicate time to something you’re passionate about, whether it’s writing a short story, coding a simple app, or creating art.
• Start planning your summer break by researching internships and pre-college programs.

While it’s good to be productive over your winter break, it’s equally as important to take care of yourself. Ensure that you get enough sleep, spend quality time with your friends and family, and take time to enjoy your hobbies.

Work with an Expert Tutor to Achieve All Your Goals

When developing back-to-school academic and college prep goals, it’s important to remember to be flexible. Different students work at different paces, so if you’re constantly comparing yourself to your peers or working at an unsustainable pace, you can do more harm than good in the process. Don’t forget to take some time to reevaluate your goals and timelines if you find yourself falling behind, struggling, or feeling overwhelmed.

Students often benefit from support as they work to achieve their goals. At IvyWise, our team of expert college admissions counselors and tutors work with students to help them develop and set realistic academic, test prep, and college prep goals that will help them get and stay on track for a successful college admissions process come senior year.  Want to learn more about our college counseling or tutoring and test prep services? Contact us today.